pride

"Every thing being settled between them, Mr. Darcy's next step was to make your uncle
acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurch street the evening before I came home.
But Mr. Gardiner could not be seen, and Mr. Darcy found, on further inquiry, that your
father was still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did not judge your
father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as your uncle, and therefore readily
postponed seeing him till after the departure of the former. He did not leave his name, and
till the next day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business.
"On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, and, as I said
before, they had a great deal of talk together.
"They met again on Sunday, and then I saw him too. It was not all settled before
Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to Longbourn. But our visitor was very
obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has
been accused of many faults at different times, but this is the true one. Nothing was to be
done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and I do not speak it to be thanked,
therefore say nothing about it), your uncle would most readily have settled the whole.
"They battled it together for a long time, which was more than either the gentleman or
lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was forced to yield, and instead of
being allowed to be of use to his niece, was forced to put up with only having the probable
credit of it, which went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter this morning
gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation that would rob him of his
borrowed feathers, and give the praise where it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no farther
than yourself, or Jane at most.
"You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young people. His debts
are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another
thousand in addition to her own settled upon her, and his commission purchased. The
reason why all this was to be done by him alone, was such as I have given above. It was
owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that Wickham's character had
been so misunderstood, and consequently that he had been received and noticed as he was.
Perhaps there was some truth in this; though I doubt whether his reserve, or anybody's
reserve, can be answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, my dear Lizzy,
you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would never have yielded, if we had not
given him credit for another interest in the affair.
"When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his friends, who were still staying at
Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding
took place, and all money matters were then to receive the last finish.
"I believe I have now told you every thing. It is a relation which you tell me is to give
you great surprise; I hope at least it will not afford you any displeasure. Lydia came to us;
and Wickham had constant admission to the house. He was exactly what he had been, when
I knew him in Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how little I was satisfied with her
behaviour while she staid with us, if I had not perceived, by Jane's letter last Wednesday,
that her conduct on coming home was exactly of a piece with it, and therefore what I now
tell you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to her repeatedly in the most serious manner,
representing to her all the wickedness of what she had done, and all the unhappiness she had